The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-12-10
AN ALASKA PoTLATCH.


AN ALASKA POTLATCH.
How tho AUX and sItka Indians AdJus
Tribal Differences.
On Sunday last five canoes Of Sitk,
Indians arrived at the AUX village, jus
above town. It was the occasion Of n,
little excitement among the Auks, TO
the Sitkans, as is usual upon such visits
made demand Of one hundred ant
twenty blankets as remuneration fol
injuries member of their tribe hat
received two years ago while engaged
in a cut and slash with an AUX Indian
in which the Sitkan got decidedly the
worst of the battle. The Auks refused
to accede TO tho demand, the result oi
which was a general go-as-you-please,
in which knives took q prominent part
as settlers of the dispute. During the
melee one of the Auks received a
severe cut on the hand, upon which he
set up howl demanding pay from the
Sitkans for the wound he had received
at their hands. 1t now being stand
of, In that members of both tribes had
received injuries one from the other,
peace was declared, providing that the
Auks would tender to their visitors n
grand potlatch (feast and dance.) The
Auks. who are weaker tribe than the
Sitkans, consented, and accordingly on
Wednesday evening last the ball was
opened. About once year the Sitkans
come over and run bluff on their
weaker neighbors, during which they
make love to their most buxom squaws,
and gorge themselves until the larders
of their hosts are well nigh exhausted.
Upon the evening of the dance the
whites of Juneau were informed of the
occasion and requested to come as
spectators. The band boys. for the
novelty of the thing, determined to
serenade the sons Of the forest and
open up their ball in a style that Mr..
Lo had never seen the like of before.
Accordingly the band and white spec
tators formed the line of march at the
outskirts of the village and. to the tune
of Prisoners Hope" and marching
Through Georgia" J" marched up through
the village, coming to halt in front
of Chief Cow-ee's residence. Although
the odor of dried salmon and seal
grease somewhat choked the players,
they managed to finish the strain. The
old chief gave them warm welcome
and extended to the band the great
honor of leading forth the dancers, who
were already costumed and ready.
The band again formed the line of
march, with the war chief Cow Kleck,
in front as drum major. and about
twenty-five Indian dancers, hideously
painted and dressed in costumes in
imitation of the bear, fox, eagle, swan.
goose and other animals. interspersed
throughout with bits of bright coloring,
bringing up the rear
The procession came to stop in
front of the hall, snake cabin some
twenty by forty feet. Upon the floor
inside, packed as close as sardincs in IL
box, sat men, women and children.
Two rows of squaws occupy the front,
who in perfect tune and with powerful
exercise of their lungs sing chorus to
the chant of the dancers. At Il given
signal from the chief, who acts as floor
the music strikes up; then
there follows flourish of swan wings,
and the dancers commence singing
and dancing. The excitement grad
nally increasing until they fairly howl.
some barking like dogs, some growing
like bears. They grin and gnash their
teeth and comfort their bodies in all
shapes that their joints and muscular
developments will admit of. Sweat
begins to oozc from every pore in their
bodies. One strives to outdo the other,
for he is considered the best dancer who
,an howl the loudest, grin the tiercest
and comfort the most. After the first
set is finished a bucket of water is
passed around, from which each dancer
;akes an enormous pull, all drinking
,ut of the bucket, and after about
rest the same performance
lbove described is gone through with.
-AlaSkd Free Press.